Print plant explosion puts four in hospital

More than 20 firefighters today continued to fight the blaze, which broke out yesterday at the Amcor Flexibles printing factory, in Brucefield Park Industrial Estate near Livingston, creating a plume of smoke visible for miles around and closing a nearby rail line.

At its peak, 70 firefighters were battling to control the fire as they faced the added hazard of a potentially lethal cocktail of toxic and volatile chemicals.

Three firefighters were taken to St John's Hospital complaining of nausea after breathing in toxic smoke. A further 12 firefighters had to be decontaminated after being exposed to chromic acid, which can cause cancer, skin lesions and ulcers.

Another man, who was taken to hospital with burns to his arms, was thought to be an employee who tried to extinguish the blaze, which started at around midday yesterday.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said this morning that six fire appliances and 24 firefighters were still at the scene: "They are still trying to tackle the fire. The smoke plume generated is not considered to be a risk to the public, but as a precautionary measure the industrial park will remain closed."

Local residents were also still being advised this morning to stay inside with doors and windows shut, as a precaution.

A source at the scene said the fire broke out when one of the company's large printers exploded but the cause of the blaze is not expected to be confirmed for some time.

Workers from nearby factories reported hearing a series of huge explosions. One said: "I heard three explosions and mushroom-like clouds appeared in the sky. The smoke was thick and really high."

Black plumes of smoke were spotted as far away as the Forth Road Bridge.

Matthew Boyle, from Bathgate, said: "I was travelling down from Blairgowrie and could see the smoke."

The firm, which has 35,000 employees across 43 countries, has its headquarters in Australia. It is not known how many people were in the building at the time. The whole industrial estate had to be evacuated and police estimates put the number of people moved to safety at around 100.The fire service spokeswoman said: "There is a high volume of chemicals and toxins inside from the company's printing works and associated inks, which are very volatile, unstable and flammable.

"This was giving us extreme concern and we advised residents in the Murieston area to stay inside and keep everything locked as a precaution."

Local councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick heard the explosion and rushed round to Bellsquarry Primary School to ensure that the children were safe.

He said: "The teacher took all the necessary precautions, keeping the children inside.

"The only saving grace was the north-easterly wind, which blew the smoke over the Pentlands, whereas if it had been the prevailing south-westerly the cloud would have blown right over the school and populated areas.

"Lanthorne Community Centre was put on standby in case any houses had to be evacuated, but this was stood down later in the day."